Official NAPLEX format and info on NABP website: https://nabp.pharmacy/programs/naplex/

 

NAPLEX format

• Computerized, fixed-form, no longer adaptive (stopped in 2015) which is a good thing, otherwise you could get tested over and over again on the HIV topic for a question that you got wrong.
• The exam results will be reported as pass or fail, and candidates are allowed five attempts to pass the exam. The 6-hour long exam composed of 225 questions are divided between two areas:
  • Ensure safe and effective.
  • Preparation, compounding, dispensing, and administration of medications and provision of health care products – 33%
• Multiple response question (select ALL that apply)
  • Single out each answer choice as a true or false statement (no room for maybe), work out each choice separately, this helps reduce the overwhelms when you see a multiple response question. The bad thing about this is you don’t get partial credit for only choosing two out of three correct statements. They replaced K-type questions.
• Hot spot question
  • E.g.: identify where in the HIV life-cycle maraviroc exerts its mechanism of action; identify where each antihypertensive drug class work.
• Ordered-response question
  • Rank the following topical corticosteroids from highest to lowest potency. (ALL options must be used.)
  • Rank the statins by potency.
• Sterile compounding and hazardous drugs
  • They are in the new version of NAPLEX since 2016.
  • USP 797 (sterile compounding) and USP 800 (hazardous drugs)
  • Know low vs. medium vs. high risk compounding and their beyond use dates, as well as how to properly sterilize a hood
• Biostats and literature evaluation
  • At minimum level, know examples of these concepts and how to calculate them: ARR, NNT, OR, RR, and other fun acronyms
  • Be able to recognize what kind of statistical test is appropriate for a given type of data.

 

NAPLEX registration

• The fee for the exam is $575.
• First, receive authorization to test (ATT). contact the board of pharmacy in the specific state where youo want to be licensed. They will issue application and instructions that determine your eligibility and will notify NABP. You will receive an ATT, which entails expiration date, range of dates when you can take the NAPLEX. www.nabp.net
• Second, register with Pearson VUE to choose your resting center and test date. You will need your ATT information for the test registration. www.pearsonvue.com

Back to top »